Gene Deckerhoff, the legendary radio play-by-play announcer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, announced that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season, ending one of the most distinguished broadcasting careers in NFL history.
Deckerhoff has served as the voice of the Buccaneers since 1989. He’s has been a part of more than 750 preseason, regular season, and playoff games. His signature call, “Touchdown, Tampa Bay!” has echoed through stadiums and living rooms over 1,100 times. His tenure ranks as the third-longest play-by-play stint with a single NFL franchise, trailing only Merrill Reese of the Philadelphia Eagles and Brad Sham of the Dallas Cowboys.
“For 37 seasons, Gene Deckerhoff’s voice has set the scene for the most iconic moments in our franchise’s history,” Buccaneers owner and co-chairman Bryan Glazer said in a statement. “His passion, authenticity, and unmistakable voice created memories that have been cherished by generations of fans. We congratulate Gene on a remarkable career and wish him a fulfilling retirement.”
Deckerhoff’s calls have become woven into Buccaneers lore. He was on the mic for Derrick Brooks’ game-clinching play in Super Bowl XXXVII, shouting, “There it is! The dagger is in! We’re going to win the Super Bowl!” He captured Rondé Barber’s legendary interception return in the 2002 NFC Championship Game with the call, “Gone! Coast to coast, Rondé Barber!” and earlier in that game, cheered Joe Jurevicius’ 71-yard touchdown with a simple, emphatic, “You go, Joe!”
The announcer also popularized the phrase “Fire the Cannons!” following Buccaneers scoring plays and delivered memorable calls for milestone moments. These included Micheal Spurlock’s franchise-first kickoff return touchdown in 2007 with “Run, Micheal, run!”
“Calling Buccaneers games has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career,” Deckerhoff said. “I’ve had the fortune to form meaningful relationships with players, coaches, staff, and fans. My wife, Ann, and I are grateful to the Glazer family and to my longtime radio partners, especially Dave Moore, who has been by my side for 19 years. I will miss doing what I love, but now is the right time to step away.”
Widely regarded as one of the nation’s premier play-by-play broadcasters, Deckerhoff’s career spans more than six decades. He also served as the voice of the Florida State Seminoles from 1979–2021. He has won 17 Florida Sportscaster of the Year awards. This included the National Football Foundation’s Chris Schenkel Award in 2013.
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